Show Description:
Aloha and welcome to the Exotic Tiki Island Podcast. This is Tiki Brian and I’ll be your south seas tropical host for the next hour as we travel back in time to a paradise isle called Exotic Tiki Island, while listening to Vintage Hawaiian, Exotica and Island related music from my record collection. In this show, we’ll be visiting the main beach, Grandpa Otto’s Grotto and then we’ll go on a jungle safari and head over to the Hurricane Hut Lounge to enjoy some tiki drinks and a live show featuring the incredible sounds of Paul Page and his Island-Airs.

For this 25th episode, I wanted to do something special for all you listeners and at the same time pay homage to one of Florida's best south seas Polynesian tiki tourist attractions. I'm referring to a place where every element was Polynesian themed. Some of the attractions on the roster included:
Polynesian Garden
Peacocks Villa
A Jungle Trail
Tiki Lagoon
Monkey Village
The Garden Wedding Chapel
Fire Mountain
Bird Tower
Trader Franks "Polynesian" restaurant
And 8 gift shops that offered souvenirs and treasures from the south seas and beyond
I'm sure many of you already know the place I've just described. But for those of you who don't, I'd like to introduce you to "Tiki Gardens".

Tiki Gardens was a South Seas Polynesian theme park located in Indian Shores, Florida. In 1962, "Trader" Frank and "Wahine"Jo Byars opened a small garden (about four acres) that was adjacent to their Signal House Gift shop. Unfortunately in 1963 the gift shop burned down but within one year, Frank and Jo were able to rebuild, expand and reopen the attraction. And By 1969 "Tiki Gardens" expanded to a 12 acre tourist attraction making it a favorite for guests of all ages.

Now, Sadly in 1986, the Byars sold "Tiki Gardens" to a developer who planned to build a hotel on the large property but it never came to be and eventually the land was turned into a public beach access parking lot. Luckily for us, there was a souvenir LP record produced that included an audio journey of "Tiki Gardens". This LP was titled "Exotic Sounds from Tiki Gardens" and it features the song "Polynesian Fantasy", which your hearing in the background.

For this special 25th episode, "Tiki Gardens" will be open again for business, at least in our imaginations on Exotic Tiki Island. Join me now as I play host and MC to this wonderful Polynesian attraction from yesteryear and share with you the Exotic Sounds of Tiki Gardens.

Aloha friends. ETI show 28 is now available on iTunes and the official Exotic Tiki Island website.
For this episode, we have a special guest with us. The one and only DigiTiki from the Quiet Village Podcast!! Check it out. Cheers.